Stoker mechanism



June 2, 1931. A. B. FAHNEsTocK sToKER MEGHANISM yFiled July 26, 192e 2 sheets-sheet 1 June 2, 1931. A. B. FAHNEsTocK STOKER MECHANI SM Filed July 26, 1526 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES TION OF DELAWARE vPATENT OFFICE.

ADAM B. FAHNESTOCK, 0F MANHASSET, NEW YORK, @SIGNOR BY lIVIlElSNIEl ASSIGN l MENTS, T THE STANDARD STOKER COMPANY INC., OF YORK, N. Y., A COCEQIEORTA.-A

STQKER MECHANISM Application med July 26,

provision of new and improved means for automatically controlling the operation of the fuel distributing means.

' Another object of the invention is the provision offnew and improved means for manually controllingthe operation of the fuel distributing mechanism.

.A further object of the invention is the provision of new and improved fuel distributing mechanism that is simple in construction, effective in operation, composed of few moving parts, and thatA may be easily controlled and eiiiciently operated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a portion of the rear end of a locomotive, with the stoker in position therein, the deflector being shown in full lines; l

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a portion of the control'mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the deflector and a portion of the distributor plate Fig. 4 is a section of a portion of the fuel receptacle taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1, showing the nozzles in position therein;

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a modified form of the stoker, parts broken away and parts in section; and

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a portion of the control mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, in which the same reference characters designate the same parts throughout'the description, the numeral 10 designates the backhead of a locomotive, 11 the redoor opening therein,l

and 12 the rebox. The stoker is designated generally by the reference character 13 and comprises the conveyer casing 14 in which is rotatably mounted the conveyer screw 15, and the elevator casing 16 in which reciprocates the plunger elevator 17.

vThe elevator 17 is operated by link and crank connection 20 and the gear mechanism 1926. Serial N0.124,73.

30, from the power shaft 40 in the usual manner. Itis provided with a skirt 50 for preventing the fuel from entering the elevator casing below the elevator when the same is in its elevated position.

A fuel reception chamber 5 is formed above the elevator casing and is continuous therewith. The. top wall of this chamber is provided with a lid 6 hinged as at 7 whereby access 'may be had to the interior of the `z stoker. The fire may also be observed through the chamber when the lid is elevated. The forward portion of the top wall of the chamber 5 is preferably straight although it may be curved downwardly, if desired, to form a defiector to direct the fuel vdownwardly and forwardly into the fireboX. The firedoor opening may be provided with doors above the chamber 5 for closing the iredoor opening as is usual in such constructions.

The conveyer casing 14 is connected to the elevatorpcasing adjacent its upper end as by means o-f the universal or ball and socket joint 18. The screw conveyer 15 is adapted to convey the fuel to the locomotive from a source ofvsupply as the tender, and deliver the same into an enlargement 19 on the e-levator casing, and force the same into -said casing above the plunger when the latter is in lowered position.

. The upper *portion ofthe casing is p-rovided with distributor mechanism comprising the plate 21 rigidly connected to the cas'-` ing and which is adapted to extend into the firebox 12 through the firedoor opening 11.4 :E

It is desirable that means be provided for directing the fuel todifferent portions of the reboxin order` that the same may be properly distributed over the grates'.

As shown, a deector 22 is employed for 1 this p-urpose. The deflector is rigidly atJ tached to a shaft 23 journaled beneath and at the rear of the plate 21. The forward end of the member is provided with an abutment 24 which may be roughly in the form l of a V pointing rearwardly and having concave sides. This abutment when above the plane of the plate 21 serves tofdeiiect laterally those lumps o-fthe fuel striking the same above their centers of gravity, and

those lumps of the fuel striking the abutment below their centers of gravity will have their velocities checked more or less and will fall on to the intermediate or rear end portions of the grates, depending on the size of the particular lump and the height of the Contact point relative. to it-s center of gravity.

The plate 21 has its forward end notched as at 25 to conform to thel shape of the abutment 24, as shown in Fig. 3.

A plurality of steam nozzles 26, three being shown, each provided with a suitalble number of openings 27, are mounted at the rear of the elevator casing for directing blasts 0r jets of steam against the elevated fuel for projecting the same into the fireboX. The nozzles are preferably located at the rear of the chamber 5 and are supplied with steam through a plurality of pipes 28, each of which is preferably provided with a valve 29 whereby a. directional effec-t of the steam blasts may be obtained by adjusting one or more of these valves.

In order to economize in the use of steam, valve mechanism is provided for directing a blast through theinozzles only when the elevator is at the upper limit of its travel. One form of mechanism for accomplishing this function is shown in Fig. 1 and comprises a casing 31 provided with a steam chamber 32 and a steam supply chamber 33 connected by a passage controlled by a valve 34. The steam chamber 32 is supplied by the pipe 35 with steam from the boiler or other convenient source of supply.

The valve 34 is provided with a stem which is adapted to engage a cam 36 mounted on a reduced portion of the crank shaft 37. This valve is operated in timed relation to the operation of the elevator whereby when the elevator is at the upper limit of its movement the valve 34 will be opened against the tension of the spring 38 to permit steam blasts to force the fuel forwardly across the upper end of the elevator and the plate 21.

Suitable means are provided for eecting the oscillation of the deilector member 22. As shown, an arm 41 is rigidly connected to the shaft 23 on which the deiiector member 22 is mounted. This arm is adapted to be engaged by a cam 42 rotatably mounted in a casing 57 at the side of the chamber 5, said cam being adapted to depress the arm at each rotation.

rIhe cam 42 is rotated by means of a pawl 43 mounted on an oscillating arm 44, said pawl engaging a suitable ratchet wheel 45 rigidly connected to the cam 42. A p-awl 46 is adapted to prevent the reverse movement of the cam 42. The arm 44 is oscillated by a cam 47 mounted on the crank shaft 37 through a plunger 48, arms 49 and 70 rigidly mounted on a shaft 50, and plunger 51. A spring 52 engages the upper end of the plunger 51 for normally holding the same in lowered position. The plunger 51 is provided with a. laterally extending pin 53 which is adapted to engage al semi-circular recess 54 in the lower portion of the arm 44. The arm 44 is held in engagement with said pin by the spring 55.

It is desirable that means be provided for manually controlling the throwT ofthe arm 44 in order that the time required for a cycle of movement of the defiector member 22 may be varied. As shown, this is accomplished by means of a screw 56 rotatably mounted in the casing 57 on which is threaded a stop nut 58 having a projection 59 for engaging a groove 61 for preventing its rotation. The nut 58 is adapted to engage the arm 44 for limiting its downward movement.

lVhen the nut 58 is at the lower end of the adjusting member 56 the arm 44 will have its maximum throw and the cam 42 will be rotated at its greatest speed, and when it is at the upper portion of the Screw it will hold the arm 44 out of Contact with the pin 53|, and in that position the member 22 will be stationary. At intermediate positions of the nut 58 the cam will be rotated one or more teeth at each reciprocation of the pin 53, depending on the adjusted position of said nut.

In the operation of the device the fuel is transferred from the source of supply and delivered into the enlargement or chamber` 19 and the elevator 17 elevates the same into the path of the blasts from the nozzles 26 which sweep the fuel across the plate 21 into the iireboX 12.

If too much fuel is bein deflected to the rear of the i'ireboX, the a justing member 56 is turned t0 raise the nut 58 to limit-the throw ofthe arm 44 whereby the rotation of the cam 42 will be retarded, thereby lengthening the time interval between the elevations of the abutment 24. If no fuel is required at the back portions of the irebox the arm 44 is elevated above the path of movement of the pin 53 while the circular surface 60 of the cam is in engagement with the arm 41.

If it is desired to trim the lire at the rear of the firebox the nut 58 lnay be lowered to speed up the rotation of the cam 42. Or, if desired, the abutment member 24 may be held stationary in elevated position by elevating the arm 44 when the cam 42vhas the arm 41 depressed as shown in Fig. 2. The abutment 24 may be held stationary in any partially elevated position by stopping the rotation of the cam 42 at the time the said abutment is at the desired elevation. The proportionate amount of fuel delivered to the sides of the fireboX may be varied by manipulating the valves 29 for controlling the blasts therethrough.

When the proper adjustments of the control mechanism have been obtained for the individual Stoker and the particular fuel employed, the abutment member will be perieither side of-thei-reboX to the exclusion ofment 64 in lowered position.

ber. As shownfcasings 570 and 571 are at.

tached one at each side of the fuel reception chamber 5. The hinge means which corresponds to the operating shaft 23 in Fig. 1, comprises two alined shafts 230, 231 each of which is oscillatably mounted beneath the chamber 5 and each end is operated inde- -pendently by mechanism shown in Fig. 2. lThe sections 63 and 64 are rigidly Vconnected respectively to the shafts 280 and 231v and are raised and lowered by the same. The oscillating shaft 500 which corresponds to the shaft 50 in Fig. 1 has the operating arms 700 and 701 mounted on the ends thereofl for operating the plungers 510, 511 in the same manner as plunger 51 is operated. The arm 49, which is adapted to be operated by the plunger 48 is arranged in substantially the'same manner as that sho-wn in Fig. 1.

The casings 57() and 571 are provided with adjusting members 560 and 561 which are identical in construction with the adjusting member 56 shown in Fig. 2. By means of this arrangement the lire may be trimmed at the other, inasmuch as the operating mechanism may be so adjusted that either section of the abutment member may be operated independently of the other.

If it be desired, for instance, to trim the fire at the back portion of the flreboxat the left side thereof, and at the same time direct more fuel to the front of the irebox at the right side thereof, the abutment 63 will be held in elevatedposition and the abut- 4It is thought from the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings that the construction and operation of my device will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that various changes in size, shape, proportion and details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

l claim as my invention 1. In a locomotive Stoker, a distributor plate, a plunger elevator for delivering fuel to said plate, means for op'erating said elevator, the upper end of said elevator being Hush with said plate when said elevator is in its uppermost position, a steam nozzle for directing a blast across said plate and the end of said elevator, an abutment member adjacent to the forward end of said plate, and means for raisingand lowering said abutment member above and below the plane of said plate.

2. In a Stoker, an elevator casing, a plunger elevator in said casing, an extension on said casing forming a fuel receptacle, a conveyer for delivering fuef into said receptacle above said elevator, a reception chamber above said casing for receiving fuel on said elevator, a

plurality of nozzles for projecting said fuel across said elevator in its uppermost position from said chamber, manually operated Valves for controlling the blasts through said nozzles, and an abutment member adjacent to said chamber and adapted to be adjustedv into the path of the projected fuel and to be lowered below saidpath. v

3. In combination, a distributor member, means for delivering fuel to said member, means for pro'ecting fuel from said member, a plurality o abutment members adjacent to said distributor member and means for raising and lowering said abutment members above and below the plane of said distributor member independently of each other.

4. ln combination, a distributor member, a

steam nozzle associated with said member, i

means for delivering fuel onto said distributor member in front of said nozzle, a plurality of abutment members, and means for independently adjusting the height of said abutment members in front of said distributor member and above the plane thereof.-

5. In combination, a distributor member, a steam nozzle associated therewith, means for delivering fuel onto said member in front of said nozzle, a plurality of abutment elements in front of said member and adjacent thereto, and means for oscillating said elements either simultaneously or independently to a position above the plane of said member, and means for holding each of said elements in any adjusted position within the range of its movement.

6. In combination, a distributor member, a steam nozzle associated therewith, means for delivering fuel onto said member in front of said nozzle, a plurality of abutment ele-l ments, and means for independently gradually raising and lowering each of said elements in front of said member to a position in the path of fuel projected forwardly from said member and to a position below said path, said abutment elements being provided with fuel deflecting surfaces inclined in opposite directions.

the thrown fuel and having means to deflect the fuel laterally to different points of the fuel-bed.

p of fuel delectors movable independentl of the thrown fuel and having their each other in approximately the same direction and in and transversely of the athdof eleflecting surfaces extending in approximately tlf direction in which the deflectors are mova e.

9. The combination, with a furnace, of apparatus for delivering the fuel onto the fuel-bed of the furnace including means to throw the fuel in a given direction, and a plurality of fuel de ectors movable independently of each other in approximately the same direction and in and transversely of the path of the thrown fuel and having their fuel deflecting surfaces'extendin'g in approximately the direction in which the delectors are movable and also oblique to the direction of the thrown fuel.

10. The combination, with a furnace, of apparatus for delivering fuel ontothe fuelbed`of the furnace including means to throw the fuel in a. given direction, and a plurality of deflectors movable independently of each other in approximately the same direction and in and transversely of the ath of the thrown fuel and having fuel-de ecting surfaces extending in a proximately the directin in which the de ectors are movable and pendently controlled means to direct the fuel from such courses as thus propelled.

14;. The combination, with a furnace, of apparatus for delivering fuel to the fuel-bed of the furnace including a plurality of independently controlled horizontally side-byside means to propel the fuel forward in a plurality of courses, and a plurality of horiy zontally side-by-side means independently movable into said courses, .for deflecting the fuel from such courses as'thus propelled.

15. The combination, with a furnace, of

apparatus for delivering fuel to the fuel-bed of the furnace including a plurality of independently controlled means to propel the fuel in a plurality of courses and each in a given direction, and a plurality of means,

independently movable into said courses, for Y In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature. ADAM B. FAHNSTOCK.

also in different angular relations to each A .means to throw in a given direction the fuel to be stoked and means, movable vertically' and independently of each other,`to direct the thrown fuel laterally and substantially horizontally toward different points in the fire-box.

13. The combination, with` a furnace, of apparatus for delivering fuelto the fuel-bed of the furnace including a plurality of independently controlled means to propel the fuel in a plurality of courses and each in a given direction, and a plurality of inde- 

